U.S. House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a news conference following a House Democratic Caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 2.EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/Reuters
U.S. lawmaker Hakeem Jeffries formally launched a bid on Friday to become the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, a day after the chamber’s speaker, Nancy Pelosi, announced she was stepping down from her leadership role.
Mr. Jeffries, 52, would be the first Black lawmaker to head a party caucus in Congress, representing both the party’s diverse voter base and a new generation of leadership.
As minority leader, Mr. Jeffries’s main task will be deciding when to co-operate with Republicans to pass bills such as funding the government and when to defend the agenda of President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat.
Republicans will take control of the House in January, having emerged with a majority in Nov. 8 midterm elections.
The often-reserved Mr. Jeffries, who was known as “Kool Ha” by college fraternity brothers for his measured speech, according to the Almanac of American Politics, put on a more pugilistic display at a news conference on Tuesday.
He lashed out at what he called “extreme MAGA Republicans” taking control of the House – a reference to the “Make America Great” slogan popularized by Republican former president Donald Trump.
He would build on Ms. Pelosi’s historic accomplishments as the first female House speaker and the first woman to lead a party in either chamber of Congress.
If Mr. Jeffries secures the post as expected, it could be a stepping stone to possibly becoming the first Black speaker the next time Democrats control of the House.
Mr. Jeffries announced his bid in a letter released by his office, saying: “I write to humbly ask for your support for the position of House Democratic Leader as we once again prepare to meet the moment.”
No challengers to Mr. Jeffries have emerged.
Mr. Jeffries satisfies the demand of many House Democrats that younger blood replace the 82-year-old Ms. Pelosi, who has had a grip on leadership for the past two decades.
Ms. Pelosi promptly issued a statement in support of Jeffries and two other Democrats seeking leadership positions.
Representative Katherine Clark, a progressive, is running for the No. 2 position of Democratic whip and moderate Representative Pete Aguilar was expected to seek the job heading the Democratic caucus, which Mr. Jeffries now holds.
“A new day is dawning – and I am confident that these new leaders will capably lead our caucus,” Ms. Pelosi said.
Mr. Jeffries has worked for months, if not years, to position himself for Ms. Pelosi’s job.
He was first elected to Congress in 2012, having previously served in the New York State legislature, where he worked on affordable housing issues and fought against some policing practices, such as “stop and frisk.”
Mr. Jeffries helped lead the fight in the U.S. House for legislation criminalizing police “choke holds” and other controversial tactics following George Floyd’s murder in 2020 by Minneapolis police.
Mr. Jeffries also led a bipartisan effort at criminal justice reform, which led to the 2018 passage of legislation restructuring sentencing procedures for certain drug offences and increasing educational and vocational funding for prisoners to help reduce repeat-offender rates.
If Mr. Jeffries wins the Nov. 30 leadership election, Democrats will be placing party power squarely with New Yorkers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer represents the state of New York and Mr. Jeffries is based in New York City, representing parts of Brooklyn, including the historically Black neighbourhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant.
In 2020, Mr. Jeffries broadened his profile, becoming one of seven House managers of then-president Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial.
While he is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Mr. Jeffries at times has had strained relations with some progressives, who have questioned his ties to corporate America.
In a previous congressional election, there were rumblings of a possible challenge to Mr. Jeffries from the party’s left wing. But he has consistently won re-election easily, including this month with 72 per cent of the vote in the midterm elections.